Native & adapted

Tamarind

Tamarindus indica

Also known as Tamarindo · Indian date · Me

A graceful, slow-growing shade tree with fern-like leaves and tangy brown pods. It takes full Phoenix sun and heat and makes good dappled shade for other plants.

EdibleFruitingShade treeHeat tolerantEvergreen

Landscape layersUpper canopy

Mature size

25–40 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide over many years

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b

Plant spacing

20–25 ft from other trees and buildings

Frost

Young trees damaged near 32°F; mature trees survive brief freezes to about 28°F.

Special categories

EDIBLE

Hardiness guidance

USDA 10–11; young trees damaged near 32°F, mature trees handle brief dips to about 28°F

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Pods ripen from late winter into spring, when the shell turns brittle and brown.

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Soil chemistry

Tolerates alkaline, sandy and poor soil if it drains.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Sunny, frost-protected site, ideally the warm south side of the yard.

Cold hardiness

Cover while young

Young growth is damaged around 30°F, but older trees are surprisingly hardy: one came through 26°F for several hours in Florida, and frozen trees often resprout from the roots. Cover young trees on frost nights for the first few winters; established trees only need help in low spots during a hard freeze.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 30°F

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

One of the best tropicals for Phoenix heat: it takes full sun, has high drought tolerance, and handles daytime highs up to about 113°F. It actually needs a long dry season to set fruit, which Phoenix provides.

Sources:

edis.ifas.ufl.edu , hort.purdue.edu , tropical.theferns.info

Right plant, right place

Will Tamarind grow at your Arizona property?

Slow but long-lived and large. Give it room to become a permanent shade tree. Seed-grown trees can take 6 years or more to fruit; grafted trees fruit sooner.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun once established; shade young trees the first summer.

Water

Irrigation

Moderate. Deep water every 7 to 10 days in summer; drought tolerant once mature.

Fruit set

Pollination

Self-fertile; insect pollinated.

Harvest

How to use it

The sour-sweet pulp flavors drinks, candy, sauces and curries. Green pods are eaten as a sour snack.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Tamarind thrive

1
Cover young trees on frost nights below 32°F.
2
Water deeply and widely to grow deep roots.
3
Prune lightly to raise the canopy for shade.
4
Leave pods on the tree until the shells are dry and crack easily.

Read the horticultural reference ↗